Vibrating-diaphragm powder-cloud generator

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A POWDER CLOUD BY VIBRATION OF A LAMINATED DIAPHRAGM WITH AN OSCILLATING ELECTRICAL SIGNAL. TONER PARTICLES CONTACT OR ARE SUPPORTED ON A MULTI-LAYER DIAPHRAGM WHICH PREFERABLY COMPRISED AN UPPERMOST THIN COATING OF METAL, E.G., ALUMINUM, VACUUM OR OTHERWISE DEPOSITED ON AN INTERMEDIATE FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MEMBRANE WHICH, IN TURN, IS POSITIONED OVER A PERFORATED RIGID CONDUCTIVE MEMBER. TONER PARTICLES DEPOSITED ATOP THE COATED MEMBRANE ARE PHYSICALLY PROPELLED INTO A POWDER CLOUD ABOVE THE DIAPHRAGM WHEN AN OSCILLATING ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A POWER SOURCE IS APPLIED. THIS OCCURS BECAUSE THE OSCILLATING SIGNAL CAUSES THE COATED PLASTIC MEMBRANE TO CYCLICALLY AND PHYSICALLY FLEX DUE TO ELECTROSTATIC ATTRACTION AND RELAXATION BETWEEN THE TWO CONDUCTIVE LAYER. LINEAR COMBINATIONS OF A VARIETY OF APPLIED ELECTRICAL FREQUENCIES CAN BE UTILIZED TO FORM &#34;BEATS&#34; OR PULSES WHICH CAUSE GREATER VIBRATION EXCURSIONS TO AID IN AGITATING THE TONER PARTICLES INTO A POWDER CLOUD.

DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at therequest of the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec.16, 1969, S69 0.G. 687. The abstracts of Defensive Publicationapplications are identified by distinctly numbered series and arearranged chronologically. The heading of each abstract indicates thenumber of pages of specification, including claims and sheets ofdrawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files ofthese applications are available to the publicfor inspection andreproduction may be purchased for 30 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to themerits of alleged invention. The Patent Ofiice makes no assertion as tothe novelty of the disclosed subject matter.

PUBLISHED JANUARY 22, 1974 918 O.Gr. 1328 An apparatus for generating apowder cloud by vibration of a laminated diaphragm with an oscillatingelec trical signal. Toner particles contact or are supported on amulti-laycr diaphragm which preferably comprises an uppermost thincoating of metal, c.g., aluminum, vacuum or otherwise deposited on anintermediate flexible plastic membrane which, in turn, is positionedover a perforated rigid conductive member. Toner particles depositedatop the coated membrane are physically propelled into a powder cloudabove the diaphragm when an oscillating electrical signal from a powersource is applied. This occurs because the oscillating signal causes thecoated plastic membrane to cyclically and physically flex due toelectrostatic attraction and relaxation between the two con ductivclayers. Linear combinations of a variety of applied electricalfrequencies can be utilized to form beats or pulses which cause greatervibration excursions to aid in agitating the toner particles into apowder cloud.

Jan. 22, 1974 T. H. MORSE T918,010

VIBRAT ING -DIAPHRAGM POWDER CLOUD GENERATOR Filed Oct. 7, 1971 x J K 26/2 m H k THEODORE H MORSE INVENTOR.

BYWW

ATTORNEY I

